Katima protest group at loggerheads with council
Members of the Katima protest organising committee staged a walkout at a meeting called by Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu on Tuesday in protest against the presence of members of the town council.
Sampofu called the meeting a day after a mass protest took place at the town in response to multiple allegations of maladministration and corruption against members of the town council and CEO Raphael Liswaniso.
Siseho Kamwi, a spokesperson for the group that marshalled residents to stage a second protest within a month, told Namibian Sun that the walkout took place after their request to the governor to exclude all members of the town council, including the CEO, was ignored.
“Before the meeting we told the governor our democratic rights should not be violated. We didn't want the town councillors or the CEO to be part of the meeting. Then he ignored our request.”
Kamwi said their demand was based on the town council's previous actions and defiance of an alleged order that water meter installations, a key rally point for Monday's protest, be stopped until further consultations.
“They undermined that resolution taken on 8 May that all installations of water meters should be stopped until the problems are resolved,” he explained.
“That is why we left the meeting on Tuesday,” he added.
Monday's petition included a demand that all water meters that had been installed should be removed, and residents should be refunded the more than N$3 000 they claim to have paid for the installation.
Governor Sampofu yesterday told Namibian Sun that the meeting was called to address the issues listed by the protestors in the petition handed over to the authorities on Monday.
He said in addition to inviting the members of the town council, and members of the protest committee, he also invited suburb committees, who remained for the duration of the meeting.
Sampofu said he did not know why the organising committee left the meeting and had not received feedback from them.
In response to accusations contained in the petition that the town council has been “captured” by a local Chinese company, ABC Investments cc, which has been awarded at least 13 tenders since 2014, an investigation will be launched and feedback provided to the community in due course, it was revealed during the meeting, according to Sampofu.
He said Liswaniso also informed those present that the tenders listed in the petition had been awarded before he was appointed as CEO.
Sampofu said the community would be informed how the tenders were advertised and awarded and “why it was given to one Chinese company”.
Sampofu told Namibian Sun that the suburb committees were reminded that although meetings had been arranged to consult residents on the topic of water meters, very few residents attended.
“There were very, very few people who came to those meetings. People were not attending,” he said.
During the discussion on Tuesday, the governor said more community meetings would be held next week to address the grievances listed in the petition.
Monday's petition included a number of demands, including an urgent plea for urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga to visit the town in person to review the grievances.
The protesters further demanded that all Swapo councillors be recalled by the party's secretary-general, based on accusations that included illegal house demolitions, ignoring public procurement regulations and not working in the interest of the residents.
They further demanded that Liswaniso be forced to resign immediately, as he was allegedly incapable of carrying out his mandate.
They accused Liswaniso of refusing to “consult, communicate and coordinate with the residents.”
Other demands included that the advisory board of the Katima Mulilo town council should be dissolved immediately.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Sampofu called the meeting a day after a mass protest took place at the town in response to multiple allegations of maladministration and corruption against members of the town council and CEO Raphael Liswaniso.
Siseho Kamwi, a spokesperson for the group that marshalled residents to stage a second protest within a month, told Namibian Sun that the walkout took place after their request to the governor to exclude all members of the town council, including the CEO, was ignored.
“Before the meeting we told the governor our democratic rights should not be violated. We didn't want the town councillors or the CEO to be part of the meeting. Then he ignored our request.”
Kamwi said their demand was based on the town council's previous actions and defiance of an alleged order that water meter installations, a key rally point for Monday's protest, be stopped until further consultations.
“They undermined that resolution taken on 8 May that all installations of water meters should be stopped until the problems are resolved,” he explained.
“That is why we left the meeting on Tuesday,” he added.
Monday's petition included a demand that all water meters that had been installed should be removed, and residents should be refunded the more than N$3 000 they claim to have paid for the installation.
Governor Sampofu yesterday told Namibian Sun that the meeting was called to address the issues listed by the protestors in the petition handed over to the authorities on Monday.
He said in addition to inviting the members of the town council, and members of the protest committee, he also invited suburb committees, who remained for the duration of the meeting.
Sampofu said he did not know why the organising committee left the meeting and had not received feedback from them.
In response to accusations contained in the petition that the town council has been “captured” by a local Chinese company, ABC Investments cc, which has been awarded at least 13 tenders since 2014, an investigation will be launched and feedback provided to the community in due course, it was revealed during the meeting, according to Sampofu.
He said Liswaniso also informed those present that the tenders listed in the petition had been awarded before he was appointed as CEO.
Sampofu said the community would be informed how the tenders were advertised and awarded and “why it was given to one Chinese company”.
Sampofu told Namibian Sun that the suburb committees were reminded that although meetings had been arranged to consult residents on the topic of water meters, very few residents attended.
“There were very, very few people who came to those meetings. People were not attending,” he said.
During the discussion on Tuesday, the governor said more community meetings would be held next week to address the grievances listed in the petition.
Monday's petition included a number of demands, including an urgent plea for urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga to visit the town in person to review the grievances.
The protesters further demanded that all Swapo councillors be recalled by the party's secretary-general, based on accusations that included illegal house demolitions, ignoring public procurement regulations and not working in the interest of the residents.
They further demanded that Liswaniso be forced to resign immediately, as he was allegedly incapable of carrying out his mandate.
They accused Liswaniso of refusing to “consult, communicate and coordinate with the residents.”
Other demands included that the advisory board of the Katima Mulilo town council should be dissolved immediately.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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